RIGHT TO WALK: MOVING PEOPLE AND NOT VEHICLES (Paper 805)

Accessible pedestrian infrastructure promotes safe and independent mobility. In Delhi, 34% of the population engages in walk-only trips, while 44% of all trips use non-motorized transport. Another 33% use public transport. Yet, 40% of Delhi’s roads have no sidewalks, and, those that do vary in accessibility, quality and continuity.  
Traffic road crossings put at risk all pedestrians, particularly the elderly and disabled. Areas of difficulty include crossing busy two-way streets and high-speed roads; intersections, particularly with no central refuge; junctions, where vehicles can come from several directions; and, at light-controlled crossings, or where free right turns are permitted. Moreover, access to bus stops and buses is hampered due to mismatch height of stops and bus chassis. As a result, persons with reduced mobility and/or those with disabilities are further disabled by the pedestrian infrastructure, limiting access to education, employment and increasing dependency.